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LD 1174

An Act To Allow Gun Shops To Hold Firearms For Veterans Of The United States Armed Forces And First Responders

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Donald Ardell and 8 co-sponsors

LD 1174 lets gun shops hold firearms for veterans and first responders, expanding safe storage options while limiting dealers' civil liability for these holds.

Signed by Governor
#firearmstorage #firearms #sales
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Bill Summary · LD 1174

LD 1174 — An Act To Allow Gun Shops To Hold Firearms For Veterans Of The United States Armed Forces And First Responders

Status: Signed by Governor (June 18, 2025)
Introduced: March 20, 2025
Subjects: Firearm storage, Firearms sales, Liability limits

Main purpose / intent

LD 1174 aims to (1) authorize firearm dealers (“gun shops”) to accept and hold firearms on behalf of veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and first responders, and (2) limit or clarify the civil liability of those dealers when they provide such firearm “hold” agreements. The intent is to make temporary, voluntary firearm storage more available to certain groups while addressing dealers’ exposure to lawsuits arising from providing that service.

Key provisions (based on available materials)

  • Creates or authorizes a firearm “hold” agreement mechanism whereby gun shops may accept firearms for safekeeping for veterans and first responders.
  • Includes statutory limits on civil liability for gun shops that provide these hold agreements (the fiscal note and engrossed bill title indicate the bill “to limit the liability of gun shops”).
  • Committee Amendment A (H‑661) was adopted prior to final passage; the engrossed version reflects that amendment. Note: The full bill text was not included in the provided documents, so exact statutory language, definitions, conditions for immunity (e.g., required written agreement, storage standards, time limits, exceptions for gross negligence), and any recordkeeping requirements should be confirmed in the enrolled law.

Who is affected

  • Gun shop owners and employees — permitted to offer storage services and afforded the liability protections established by the law.
  • Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and first responders — enabled to arrange firearm safekeeping with dealers.
  • Department of Public Safety — may have minor administrative responsibilities; fiscal notes indicate minimal impact.
  • Potential civil plaintiffs — the scope of causes of action available against dealers may be narrowed as specified by the statute.

Fiscal impact

  • Fiscal notes (for both the original and amended versions) report a minor General Fund cost increase to the Department of Public Safety, which can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.

Legislative history & timeline

  • Introduced March 20, 2025; referred to Judiciary Committee.
  • Work session and divided committee report in May 2025; Committee Amendment A adopted.
  • Passed both chambers (concurrence actions recorded June 12–13, 2025).
  • Signed by the Governor June 18, 2025.

Notes & recommended next steps

  • The provided materials do not include the full statutory text or an explicit effective date. For implementation details—precise limits on liability, any required procedures for hold agreements, exceptions (e.g., gross negligence), and the law’s effective date—consult the enrolled bill as enacted by the Secretary of State or the final statute in the Maine Revised Statutes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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